What to visit in Bilbao with a dog, a walk without limitations

In front of the entrance to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,

Puppy

, a

large

terrier , stands guard 24 hours a day all year round.

In fact, this dog is the largest floral sculpture on display in the world, the work of artist Jeff Koons.

“A sculpture apparently out of control, as it continues to grow in a literal and figurative sense,” as stated on the museum's website.

In the garden area adjacent to the imposing building designed by Frank Gehry, which revitalized the area of ​​post-industrial Bilbao and the adjacent Abando Park, dozens of mutts run around every day in a green space among the most frequented by masters and dogs for their daily walk. .

“Although one of the best areas for dogs is in the Doña Casilda Iturrizar park, very close to the Guggenheim, on the other side of Lehendakari Leizaola street, or on the side of the imposing Iberdrola Tower [also next to the Guggenheim],” says a lady who has just let go of the leash of a beautiful brown spotted greyhound.

This February 20 is World Love Your Pet Day, and coinciding with this date we propose a route through the city without limitations to go with your pet.

In addition to these green spaces, the City Council has set up recreation areas in other parks so that dogs can enjoy themselves loose, without a leash, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. from November to May;

and from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. between June and October.

They are Amézola, Azoka Zorroza, Encarnación, Eskurtze, Etxebarria, Europa, Ibaieder, Miribilla and Sarriko.

This is an initiative to make life easier for Bilbao residents and their dogs and the stay of visitors who cannot be without their dog for even a weekend.

A good number of restaurants and the best

pintxos

bars in the city have also added to the tolerance of pets not only on the terraces, but also inside the premises.

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Two people, with their pets, take a selfie in front of the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Brett JT (Alamy / CORDON PRESS)

In addition to

Puppy

, we can admire the other works exhibited outside the Guggenheim:

The Great Tree and the Eye

, by Anish Kapoor;

Mama,

by Louise Bourgeois, or the

Fountain of Fire

, by Yves Klein.

Afterwards, a walk of a quarter of an hour towards the center along Elcano Street will take us to Moyúa Square and, immediately, to Diputación Street, where at the El Globo bar you should try, above all, their gratin

pintxos

.

.

The txangurro

one

is an unforgettable delight and the potato one with white truffle is not far behind.

Neither inside nor on the terrace, there is no problem with enjoying the place accompanied by our faithful friend.

Nor is there one in the recently opened Gastro Bar Tulipán, on García Rivero Maisuaren street and a 10-minute walk from Diputación, where some of its most popular

pintxos

are the meat pepper, a house specialty, or the Galician-style octopus. .

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On a day of snacking in Bilbao you should not ignore the Casco Viejo area, where some of the bars recommended by the City Council to go to with your dog are The Beetle Bar and Plaza Unamuno.

The first, small, but with a terrace with a drinking fountain for the dog, serves some very good banderillas, which here are called

gildas;

“With or without fire [chilli],” asks the waitress.

The Plaza Unamuno has a larger terrace and a good assortment of

pintxos , with special recommendation for the

squid

omelet service

, delicious.

Back in the center, some of the terraces of the traditional bars on Ledesma Street (Ledesma Nº5, Atseden or El Puertito, among others) are also suitable for eating pintxos

or

pet-friendly portions.

A man with his dog, on a terrace in Bilbao. Nico Chapman (Alamy / CORDON PRESS)

The afternoon is a good time to let the dog loose on some of the permitted beaches on the coast near the city, since that is when the established schedule begins.

Thus, you can go to Ereaga beach, in Getxo, from four in the afternoon until eleven in the morning (from October 1 to April 30) and we can get there comfortably by the metro from the center of Bilbao in a half an hour, as long as our dog does not weigh more than eight kilos.

Other beaches in the province suitable for dogs, with different hours and restrictions depending on the season, are Sopelana, Azkorri, Arrigunaga or La Arena;

They can be consulted on the Euskadi Tourism website, in the section

Bilbao leaves its mark.

A surfer, accompanied by her dog, on a Bilbao beach.RooM the Agency / Alamy / CORDON PRESS

In the area of ​​transportation, an effort has also been made in recent times so that one can travel with their dog friend.

On city buses, pets can travel as long as they do so in a carrier;

on the tram, whatever their size if we carry them on a leash;

and on Cercanías, when they are in a carrier or on a leash and muzzle.

If you want to climb Mount Artxanda, 250 meters high and considered the viewpoint of the city - it is also an excellent place for dogs to relax - you can do it on the Funicular as long as they are not considered potentially dangerous animals and Let's carry it on a leash and muzzle.

Back in the city, around eight in the afternoon, Plaza del Ensanche seems like a good place for dogs to socialize and make friends and for their owners to imitate them between sausages and beers in the hilarious German bar Ein Prosit, with an exceptional atmosphere. international soccer fan.

An exhausting dog and gastronomic day requires a well-deserved rest for master and pet.

The centrally located Sercotel Ayala hotel accepts dogs up to 20 kilos and cats, and also provides special beds and food bowls for them.

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